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The university interview: getting over nerves [video]

Interview anxiety can affect even the most confident people: mind blanks, sweaty palms or a nervous stammer. We asked careers coaching experts at Eyes Wide Opened to share their top tips...

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We asked careers coaching experts at Eyes Wide Opened to share their top tips...

Watch now: University interviews - getting over nerves

Managing university interview nerves

Firstly, accept some level of nervousness as a given. At a university interview the stakes are high so it’s to be expected that you won’t feel that relaxed. As former hostage negotiator Dick Mullender says, nerves are a good thing and the adrenaline they can give you will keep you on your toes. What's important is learning how to manage and harness them.

Here are some more tips:

Don’t dress in a way that feels totally unlike you. Yes, you’ll need to be presentable – but stay true to who you are and make sure you’re comfortable in what you’re wearing, or it’ll show.

Prepare, prepare, prepare. Don’t convince yourself that it’s fine to wing it – the more prepared you are, the less nervous you'll feel. Plan your answers to tricky questions they might ask and think of some questions of your own.

Think about how you want to come across, and how you'd like the interviewer to remember you once you’ve left the room. Confident, interested, energetic, questioning, engaged? Visualise yourself achieving this.

Which? University provides guest spots to external contributors. Eyes Wide Opened helps people figure out what kind of work would really make them tick through events, courses and workshops.